ALLEN DULLES ESTATE RECORDS

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP83B00823R000200070108-7
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
December 9, 2016
Document Release Date: 
October 18, 2000
Sequence Number: 
108
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 12, 1969
Content Type: 
MFR
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP83B00823R000200070108-7.pdf104.32 KB
Body: 
Approved For ReleaM0C:;CL*QMQ881(000200070108-7 12 September 1969 MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT: Allen Dulles Estate Records 25X1A9a 1. Upon s return from leave, I briefed him on the fact that the attorney for the Dulles estate is desirous of 25X1A having review the papers in Category III in order that a monetary value may be placed upon them. I asked that Mr. 25X1A9a -identify the individual papers which would comprise this category. 25X1A9a 2. During the process of working on these papers, he and I frequently conversed as to the proper handling of this category. We determined that the papers generally fall into two categories of sensitivity- -one of little sensitivity, the other very sensitive, to the extent that they should under no circumstances be released to the public for an extremely long period of time. I then 25X1A9a asked to divide Category III into two groups--one which could possibly be released after five years, the other after a long period, approximately twenty-five years. 25X1A9a 3. has made the separation but has found it extremely difficult to differentiate between degrees of sensitivity of the various papers. I personally examined a sample group of 25X1A9a papers furnished by From this examination, several observations were made. It was noted that all of the papers had been dictated by Mr. Dulles in his office or consisted of letters received by him together with replies which had been prepared by special assistants to Mr. Dulles. This latter category of replies, which were prepared by special assistants, raises an image question which should be considered, namely recipients of personal letters from Mr. Dulles could now determine that they were actually written by someone else. GhDW t Excluded from rutsmatlc down(rading aid decla?xiticatian Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-i 83B00823R000200070108-7 Approved For Release 2001/ -RDP83B00$822.3R000200070108-7 4. examination of the Category III papers resulted in his placing only twenty-one pieces of correspondence into the five-year minimum sensitivity category. 5. In a meeting with on 10 September 1969, he stated that he has now categorized the general types of documents falling within Category III. Furthermore, he stated that his examin- ation indicates that all of these papers were prepared at the CIA Headquarters and that he is of the opinion that they can be considered as official correspondence. The only reason for the existence of the problem of disposal of the papers in this category is the fact that Mr. Dulles chose to take them home rather than leave them in the office. eels, and I share his opinion, that the documents in this category could well be considered as official in their entirety. I have set up a meeting with the General Counsel immediately upon his return from leave on Monday, 15 September 1969. At that time this proposal will be made to him. 6. In the event that Mr. Houston does not concur, I propose to establish a panel, consisting of a representative from the Office of General Counsel, a representative from the Office of Security, and the third member to be either Mr. The rationale for the establishment of this panel is the fact that the considerations involved are much broader than security. Also, the downstream implications of releasing these documents could be extremely serious from the standpoint of the Agency and its image as a secure repository of sensitive information, which correspondents to its Director should be able to expect. The mere fact that such correspondence did not bear an official classification, which in itself would have been inappropriate, cannot be the fulcrum for determin- ations involving public access. Deputy Director of Security Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP83B00823R000200070108-7